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THE ATTITUDE OF CHAMPIONS

Do you have an inner dialogue of self-encouragement and self-motivation, or one of self-defeat and self-pity? Experts say adopting the right attitude in times of adversity could distinguish you from being an average person or something we’d all rather be...a champion.

But what exactly is this attitude of champions? Does it involve getting up at 5am everyday? Working for 12 hours a day or more? Having a huge network of contacts? Not quite. Successful individuals generally do have high energy and surround themselves with the right people, but there are a few other characteristics to their makeup. Here are five important factors in adopting the attitude of champions.

1. Stay Positive

Maintaining a positive attitude when the chips are down is not always easy. In fact it’s downright difficult for most people. Even champions have their off days, but they bounce back more readily than the average Joe, don’t let negative people get them down with criticism or rejection, and limit their own negative self talk. They maintain a high level of positivity and continue to have high expectations for success despite setbacks.

2. Be Resilient

Developing resilience or ‘mental toughness’ is extremely important if you want to be successful in life. Elite athletes have this characteristic in spades and so do entrepreneurs. If you have a strong will to succeed then you’ll also need the ability to bounce back from performance setbacks. The two often go hand in hand but not always. Resilience involves having the courage to try again, even if you’ve failed spectacularly, and is something that can be learned as an emotional skill.

3. Stay Focused

The ability to stay focused on the task ahead is crucial to success. For many of us it’s all too easy to let demands of family, financial worries, past failures and what other people think creep in and stop us from achieving our goals. Champions have an unfailing belief that by being persistent and focused they’ll get where they need to be. You can become more focused by adopting mindfulness and staying in the present. Practising meditation can help your mind become more peaceful and calm, thereby allowing you to focus and remain on task.

4. Take Risks

The greatest innovators on the planet are usually pretty big risk takers too. Risk taking in fact is seen as a core ingredient for business success, and as important as making decisions and being adaptable. Champions don’t see risks as negative, dangerous or something to be avoided. They recognise that risks don’t have to be gambles but can be calculated and are a necessary part of the process of innovation. They have an unshakable belief in their venture, even though they may lose big, but they’re ok with that and accept the risk because they know they can bounce back from failure.

5. Give Back

Some of the most wealthiest and successful people in the world are some of the most generous. Consider people like Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Warren Buffett, self made billionaires who spend a lot of time and effort setting up enterprises to help others and giving money to charity. Of course you don’t have to be a billionaire to help others or give away all your money. But you can look for simple ways to cultivate generosity, it may be a small amount per week to a charity you feel passionate about, donating stuff you don’t need to a homeless shelter, or spending time with a friend in need. Giving back to society will make you feel good about yourself, and this in turn helps you to stay positive, it’s a win-win!